Face detection method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus as disclosed for face detection within images. A new vector, the discriminating feature analysis vector, is introduced to represent an image to be analyzed, from the DFA vector as processed using a Bayesian Classifier technique. The methodology provides a computationally efficient manner in which to detect faces with relatively low probability of error and false detection rate.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to provisional application serial No. 60/446,596 (“the '596 application”), filed Feb. 11, 2003. The '596 application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This invention relates to image analysis, and more particularly, to an improved method and apparatus for detecting the presence of faces within an image while minimizing the required calculations and maximizing speed and efficiency.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Face detection has a variety of applications in government, security, etc. Face detection involves the ability of software and apparatus to examine a composite image and detect the presence of faces within the image. Face detection algorithms are known in the art and are computationally expensive. A variety of techniques utilized in prior art face detection algorithms are described and cited as references 1-28 in the '596 provisional application. One of the main challenges in face detection technology is the ability to discriminate between face and non face images given that the faces may be of any size and located anywhere in the image.

[0004] Earlier efforts have been focused on correlation or template matching, matched filtering, subset methods, deformable templates, and similar such techniques. One representative technique, in order to cope with the variability of face images, utilizes six Gaussian clusters to model the probability distributions for face and non-face patterns, respectively. The density functions of the Gaussian distributions are then fed through a multilayer perceptron classifier for face detection. Such techniques are extremely computationally expensive, and subject to relatively high rates of false detection.

[0005] It is an object of the invention to decrease the computational cost of performing face detection;

[0006] It is also an object of the invention to provide a face detection algorithm that has an acceptable false detection;

[0007] It is also an object of the invention to diminish the large number of probability density functions utilized in face detection algorithms;

[0008] It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a relatively accurate face detection algorithm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The above and other problems of the prior art are overcome in accordance with the present invention, which relates to a novel representation of the input images and the processing of such novel representation using a novel Bayesian classification technique in order to detect faces.

[0010] In accordance with the invention, a discriminating feature analysis (DFA) procedure is carried out and DFA vectors are calculated on a variety of training images. The DFA vectors are then utilized to model the face and non-face classes using, for each class, a single multivariate Gaussian probability density function (PDF). The generation of the DFA vectors and the modeling of the face and non-face classes based upon such DFA vectors renders training complete.

[0011] Thereafter, an input image is processed to calculate the DFA vectors associated with such input image. The DFA vectors are then processed through a special Bayesian classifier as discussed more fully below in order to control the false detection rate and provide optimal accuracy in performing face detection. The output of the foregoing then classifies portions of the image as face or nonface with a relatively high degree of accuracy and low probability of false detection.

[0012] The DFA representation may itself be used in representations other than for face detection algorithm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the basic steps of the face detection algorithm of the present invention; and

[0014]FIG. 2 shows the discriminating feature analysis (DFA) of face and nonface classes. (a) The first image is the mean face, the second and the third images are its 1-D Harr wavelet representation, and the last two bar graphs are its amplitude projections. (b) The mean nonface, its 1-D Harr wavelet representation, and its amplitude projections. Note that the images and projections in (b) resemble their counterparts in (a) due to the fact that the nonface samples lie close to the face class.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015]FIG. 1 depicts a flow chart of the basic technique implemented by the present invention. The calculations performed by the various portions of FIG. 1 are included in the provisional application that is incorporated herein by reference, and such mathematical equations will not be repeated again herein.

[0016] In FIG. 1, the program is entered at start block 101 and training images are input into the system at block 102. In experiments performed in connection with the present invention, the training data for the Bayesian Discriminating Features methodology consisted of 600 FERET frontal face images that were used to model the face and nonface classes. The face class thus contains 1200 face samples after including the mirror images of the FERET data, and the nonface class consists of 4,500 nonface samples, which are generated by choosing the subimages that lie closest to the face class from 9 natural scene images.

[0017] This training data is utilized at block 103 in order to compute the discriminating feature analysis (DFA) vector of the training images. The DFA vector is a novel featured vector with enhanced discriminating power for face detection. The DFA representation, shown for example in FIG. 2 hereof, combines the input image, its 1 -D Harr wavelet representation, and its amplitude projections. The DFA representation of the training images may be calculated from Equation 6 in the provisional application incorporated herein by reference. The derivation of such equation is shown at pages 5-6 of said provisional. The output of Equation 6 represents the combination of the image, its 1-D Harr wavelet representation, and its amplitude projections.

[0018] Once the DFA vectors are calculated for the training images, the system stores the DFA vectors at block 104. Accordingly, by block 104, the entire set of training images has been processed and translated into DFA vectors so that the algorithm can next model the face-class and non-face classes from these DFA representations.

[0019] The modeling of the face and non-face classes is represented generally by operational block 105 in FIG. 1. The conditional probability density function of the face class can be estimated using a single multivariate Guassian distribution, rather than up to six Guassian clusters as utilized by most prior art systems. The monitoring of the face class is accomplished in accordance with Equation 13 in the incorporated provisional application. That equation can be used to model the face class.

[0020] Continuing with operational block 105, the nonface class modeling starts with the generation of nonface samples by applying Equation 13 to natural images that do not contain any human faces at all. Those subimages of the natural images that lie closest to the face class are chosen as training samples for the estimation of the conditional probability density function of the nonface class, which is also modeled as a single multivariate Gaussian distribution. The conditional density function of the nonface class is estimated as Equation 18 in the incorporated provisional application. Accordingly, at the completion of block 105, Equations 13 and 18 have already been utilized to calculate the conditional PDFs for both face and nonface classes from a single multivariate Gaussian distribution.

[0021] The PDFs are stored after being modeled at block 105. The stored PDFs render the system trained and ready to operationally detect faces in input images.

[0022] Block 106 is the first step shown in FIG. 1 wherein an actual input image in which a face is to be detected is provided to the system. As previously noted, the system already has the PDFs of the face and nonface classes stored. Upon input of the image, the system calculates the DFA vector associated with the input image. That vector DFA must then be used to classify the image and portions thereof as face or nonface classes.

[0023] To perform such classification, control is transferred to block 108 where the BDF method applies the Bayesian classifier for multiple frontal face detection. The Bayesian classifier provided at Equations 19-25 of the incorporated provisional application is executed upon the DFA of the input image. The Bayesian classifier will then determine, according to Equation 25 of the incorporated provisional, whether the image or subimage being examined is a face or a nonface class. The equations 19-25 define what is termed herein a Bayesian classifier.

[0024] Note there are two empirically derived control parameters in the BDF equations, τ and θ, that must be finely tuned to the particular system under consideration. For the experiments conducted with respect to the present invention and described in the incorporated provisional application, the selected values of 300 and 500, respectively, were found to give acceptable performance. However, trial and error based upon the particular training images and anticipated input images may require these values to be adjusted slightly up or down.

[0025] It is noted that the DFA vector shown in FIG. 2 combines the input image, its 1-D Harr wavelet representation, and its amplitude projections. The DFA vector may be useful in other image processing and detection systems, and is not limited to the face detection algorithms of the present invention. It is also noted that the empirically derived parameters discussed above may vary from system to system, and are not limited to those set forth herein or in the incorporated provisional. Various modifications or additions will be apparent to those of skill in the art, and such variations are intended to be covered by the appended claims. 

1. A method of representing an image comprising calculating its 1-D Haar wavelet representation, amplitude projections, and combining said image with said 1-D Haar representation and said amplitude projections.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said combining includes forming the discriminating feature analysis (DFA) vector of said image.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said DFA is formed based upon training images.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein said DFA's from said training images are used to model face and non face classes using a single multivariate probability distribution function (PDF) for each of said face classes.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said models are stored and used for later analysis of input images.
 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising calculating the DFA of an input image to be analyzed.
 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising using said DFAs of said input image to classify the image using a Bayesian classifier.
 8. A method of classifying an input images as being of a first type or of a second type, the method comprising calculating PDF's of images classes of said first type and of said second type using a single multivariate Gaussian PDF, and utilizing said Gaussian PDFs in conjunction with at least one input image to classify said input image as either being of a first type or of a second type.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said first type is a face and said second type is a nonface.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the PDF's of the face and nonface classes are calculated only after first calculating the DFA of each of a plurality of training images.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein a DFA of an input image is calculated and a Bayesian discriminator function is used to process the DFAs of the input image to classify said input image as either a face or nonface.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said PDFs of the face and non face classes are calculated during training based upon a sample set of at least several hundred FERET images. 